Storing vegetables in a refrigerator is one of the biggest challenges for housewives. Many women say that the vegetables spoil within a day or two in a fridge. Some women also say that veggies become soggy in a fridge. Celery is an important kitchen ingredient that housewives use in daily cooking.
Celery is used in different dishes such as curries, soups, and so on. But one problem that comes with using celery is its storage. This vegetable does not remain fresh at room temperature. So, you must keep celery in the fridge properly to keep it long-lasting and fresh.
In this blog, we will discuss how long celery lasts in the refrigerator, methods to keep it fresh for a long time, and different Celery dishes to prepare easily.
Meaning of celery
Celery belongs to the Apiaceae family or the parsley family. The stalk of celery is a bunch of multiple branches connected to one heart in the center. On the other hand, the branch is an individual piece of celery.
Ribs, seeds, and leaves of celery can be used in daily cooking. Apart from that, you can also use raw or cooked celery for cooking soups. Raw celery can be used in salads and dips.
How long does celery stay fresh?
The freshness of celery depends on how you store it. If you keep celery in your fridge, it will stay fresh for 1 to 2 weeks. After cutting the celery, it will remain fresh for about 4 to 7 days. However, you can store the chopped celery in the fridge for more than a week by placing it in sealed containers. You can also place chopped celery pieces in water for a few minutes and then store them in a fridge.
Prepackaged celery sticks will remain fresh for 4 days in a fridge. On the other, you can store cooked celery for 3 to 4 days in a fridge. If you are storing packaged celery sticks in a fridge, check the expiry date on the packages. You can also freeze celery sticks to use in soups and smoothies.
How to store celery after cooking?
After cooking celery, you can store it in an airtight container with a good seal. Apart from that, you can also use a pot with a lid to store cooked celery sticks. Never store celery pieces immediately in a fridge after cooking.
You must keep the cooked celery for a few minutes at room temperature to cool them. Do not keep celery at room temperature for more than 2 hours as it will become soggy.
Is plastic bag good for storing celery?
One of the common ideas that housewives try to store vegetables is using a plastic bag. Zip-lock plastic bags are not good for celery sticks. They make the celery sticks soggy within a few days.
Celery makes ethylene gas and it will get trapped inside the plastic bag. This process will cause the spoiling of celery quickly. Even if you think that it is a simple way to store celery in a plastic bag, do not try this idea.
Best ways to store celery
If you want celery to taste delicious even after a week, try some of the best methods. Here is the list of ways to store Celery properly:
Use aluminum foil
One of the best ways to store celery is to keep it in aluminum foil. Celery will remain fresh for many days in aluminum foil. Keep the whole celery stalk in aluminum folk and store it in a fridge.
Aluminum foil will hold the moisture of the celery stalk and maintain its freshness. Celery will remain fresh for about 4 weeks in aluminum foil. Wrap the celery stalk tightly in aluminum foil to get it fresh and tasty.
Method of freezing celery
Another good method of storing celery is freezing it. Freezing the celery stalk will keep it fresh and green for a long time. You can freeze cooked celery as well as raw celery in a fridge for a long time.
You must cut raw celery into pieces and place them in an airtight jar. Then you must keep an airtight jar in a freezer. However, the frozen raw celery must be used quickly as it will become soggy within a few days.
You can add frozen celery pieces or stalk to soups, sauces, and stews. It is necessary to boil celery pieces in water and let them at room temperature for a few minutes. Finally, you can store celery pieces in freezer-safe bags.
Blanching method
Blanching celery before freezing will extend its life. Frozen blanched celery will remain good even for a year. This method will also retain the taste of the vegetable. You will get a fresh taste of soups and other dishes by adding blanched frozen celery pieces.
Celery recipes that you must try at home
Celery is one of the best vegetables to try in different dishes. It is one of the most nutritious veggies for daily use in your kitchen. You can try a variety of celery dishes in your kitchen such as:
Chicken and tofu stir fry with cashews
This recipe is quite easy to prepare by mixing tofu and chicken pieces. You can prepare this dish during weekends to enjoy with friends and family. It is also a healthy and tasty dish to consume regularly.
Potato salad with celery and fennel
If you are a vegan person, try this celery recipe. You can add potatoes with some other green veggies with celery. This salad is packed with nutrients and vitamins. You can prepare this vegetable salad in the winter season.
Mushroom salad with celery
This salad is very simple and quick to prepare by adding celery stalks and sautéed mushrooms. You can add pepper, salt, and oregano to this salad to get a good taste.
Lentil and celery salad tossed salsa
A combination of celery and lentils enhances the taste of this salad. You can eat this salad daily to get energy in the body.
Celery juice
You can prepare this wholesome Celery juice by adding Celery, lemon juice, and green apple. This juice is best for the summer as well as winter seasons as it supplies energy to your body.
Celery FAQs
You can easily identify bad celery from its soft texture. If you see a mushy and soft portion of celery, avoid eating it as it is spoiled and might harm your health.
Before consuming old celery, smell it properly. You must also look at the texture and color of celery. If you get an unpleasant odor of celery, throw it away as it might cause digestive problems.
How to maintain the freshness of celery in a fridge?
Yes, you must wash celery stalks with tap water to remove debris. Apart from that, you can also soak celery stalks in vinegar to kill insects, dust, debris and bacteria.
You can store celery at a temperature ranging between 0 and 13 degrees Celsius. The right temperature to freeze celery is -0.2 c degree Celsius.
Final words
These are some of the best methods to store celery properly. You can store cooked or raw celery pieces in a fridge to retain their freshness, moisture, and taste. Celery is one of the healthiest veggies to add to different dishes such as salads, soups, and curries. It adds a rich taste and aroma to simple recipes.
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